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Independent analysis of NHS open data
PharmaInsight

Isophane insulin vs Metformin hydrochloride

National NHS prescribing compared (Prescription Cost Analysis)
Data updated April 2026

Metformin hydrochloride was dispensed 39.8× as often as Isophane insulin in April 2026 — 2,297,528 items versus 57,724 in England.

57,724items

Isophane insulin · April 2026

NHSBSA Prescription Cost Analysis

2,297,528items

Metformin hydrochloride · April 2026

NHSBSA Prescription Cost Analysis

Figure 1. Isophane insulin versus Metformin hydrochloride: national items dispensed by month

▬ Isophane insulin   ·   ╌ Metformin hydrochloride

0 1.2m 2.4m Jan 2021 Oct 2021 Jul 2022 Apr 2023 Feb 2024 Nov 2024 Apr 2026 Metformin hydroc… 57,724 Jan 2021: 53k Feb 2021: 51k Mar 2021: 56k Apr 2021: 54k May 2021: 53k Jun 2021: 57k Jul 2021: 57k Aug 2021: 54k Sep 2021: 56k Oct 2021: 54k Nov 2021: 56k Dec 2021: 60k Jan 2022: 54k Feb 2022: 51k Mar 2022: 58k Apr 2022: 54k May 2022: 56k Jun 2022: 55k Jul 2022: 55k Aug 2022: 56k Sep 2022: 55k Oct 2022: 55k Nov 2022: 56k Dec 2022: 57k Jan 2023: 56k Feb 2023: 51k Mar 2023: 58k Apr 2023: 53k May 2023: 56k Jun 2023: 57k Jul 2023: 56k Sep 2023: 56k Oct 2023: 57k Nov 2023: 58k Dec 2023: 58k Jan 2024: 59k Feb 2024: 55k Mar 2024: 56k Apr 2024: 59k May 2024: 60k Jun 2024: 56k Jul 2024: 60k Aug 2024: 59k Sep 2024: 57k Oct 2024: 60k Nov 2024: 58k Dec 2024: 60k Jan 2025: 60k Feb 2025: 53k Mar 2025: 56k Apr 2025: 57k May 2025: 59k Jun 2025: 57k Jul 2025: 60k Aug 2025: 56k Sep 2025: 58k Oct 2025: 60k Nov 2025: 55k Dec 2025: 62k Jan 2026: 58k Feb 2026: 53k Mar 2026: 58k Apr 2026: 58k

Source: NHSBSA Prescription Cost Analysis, to April 2026

Isophane insulin versus Metformin hydrochloride, April 2026
Measure Isophane insulin Metformin hydrochloride
Items, April 2026 57,724 2,297,528
Items, last 12 months 694,556 27,464,818
Net ingredient cost, April 2026 £1,490,401 £5,058,201

See the full profile for Isophane insulin or Metformin hydrochloride.